Disney takes animatronics to the next level

Posted Friday, August 29, 2003 5:06 AM | Contributed by supermandl34

Disney's Imagineers have fashioned a prototype of the next generation of audio-animatronic figures that's a far cry from Walt's childhood hero, the animated president Liconln. In fact, it's a 20-foot-long smiling dinosaur named Lucky that is fully mobile and can interact with guests -- through the help of a hidden operator. The creature, which grunts, hisses, bats his eyelashes and even signs autographs in the shape of a clover, made his debut test-run at Disney's California Adventurelast week.